John francis deeves



(No Model.)

J. I. DEEVES. FOLDABLE MAIL BOX.

Patented May 12, 1891.

Q? a/mm STATES PATENT O FICE.

JOHN FRANCIS DEEVES, OF NE lV ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGITOR TO THE NElV ORLEANS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLAQE.

FOLDABLE MAIL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION, forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,071, dated May 12, 1891.

Application filed July 8, 1390- Serial No. 358,113. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN FRANCIS Dnnvns, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable M ail-Boxes; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the IQ art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improvement in mailreceptacles; and it consists in the novel features of construction and combination here-- inafter described.

The object of my invention is to provide a mail-receptacle for private use, which will be very small, neat in appearance, and which is capable of being folded to occupy very small 2ov space when not in use; To this end I employ a collapsible or foldable box or receptacle, which is capable of being folded fiat against, its support when not in use, and which will be drawn out into its operative position when it is desired to deposit mail-matter therein.

In using such a construction I obtain a mailreceptacle which informs anyone at a glance whether or not it contains mail-matter, and which is adapted to be folded so as to be al- 0 most unseen when not in use.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, and the same is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved mail-receptacle in its closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the said receptacle partly drawn out. Fig.

3 is a side elevation of the said receptacle in operative position. Fig. at is atop view, partly in section, of the receptacle, showing it swung away from its support. Fig. 5 is a front view of the receptacle in its open or operative position. Fig. 6 is a detail of the folding end sections, showing the spring locking device.

Referring to the drawings and the reference-letters marked thereon, A represents the attaching-plate, which is provided with means for enabling it to be secured to a wall, door,

or other suitable support. To the attachingplate A is hinged the frame B, which is provided with a locking device I), by means of which it can be swung back against the plate A and locked in such position, To the frame B is attached the pivoted sections of a collapsible mail-receptacle. This box or receptacle consists of the face-plate C, which is connected to the frame B by means of the folding side portions, each of which preferably consists of two pivoted sections 0' 0. These side portions are pivotally connected atone edge to the frame B and at the opposite edge to the face-plate O, as clearly seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

I prefer to form the pivotal connections between the parts by providing the adjacent edges with alternating hinge-sockets 0 as clearly shown in Fig. 6, and said adjacent edges are then placed with the alternating 7o sockets o of the parts in alignment with each other and a hinge-pin passed through said sockets, thus forming the hinge or pivotal connection.

lVhen the box or receptacle is folded or collapsed, the sections 0 c of the side portions will fold upon each other and be fiat against the plate B. I prefer to construct the hinge-joints in such manner that the sections 0 of the upper and lower side portions will fold 8o outwardly and the sections 0 of the remaining side portions will fold inwardly and lie beneath the face-plate O, as indicatedindotted lines, Fig. 5; but they may be made to fold in any other desired way.

In order to secure the box in its operative position when drawn out, I provide one or both of the sections 0 of the upper and lower side portions with a spring locking device at either end adapted to engage the adjacent side sections 0, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. I have shown this locking device in this instance as consisting of a spring-actuated bolt D, which engages a suitable notch or recess in the side section 0, with which it 5 comes in contact when the parts are drawn out, thereby holding the parts rigidly in their operative position. I prefer to provide one of the sections 0 c of the upper and lower sides of the box with the spring-latches D; I00 but I may use more or less, as is found necessary or most convenient, and I may locate them upon the sections 0 c. I have shown the bolt D as located in a recess within the folding section; but it could be secured in guides on the surface of the same, as will be readily understood.

I prefer to connect the spring-latches D on each side of the box by means of a cord or wire or other connection, so that by unlocking the lock 1) and swinging out the frame the hand may be inserted and retract'all of the latches together and permit the box to be collapsed or folded after the contents have been removed.

The face-plate C is provided with a suitable handle or ringE for drawing out the box, and also with a drop-letter slot F, closed, if desired, by a pivoted plate, as is customary in mail-receptacles.

The operation of my improved device is as follows: The receptacle when not in use is folded flat against the plate A and forms a very unconspicuous object, not at all disfiguring the door or wall to which it is secured. hen the postman or other party desires to deposit mail-matter therein, the face-plate C is drawn out by means of the ring or handle E until the spring-catches engage their locking-notches and secure the box in its open or distended position. The mail'matter is then deposited in the box through the slot F. A glance at the box is always sufficient to indicate whether or not it contains mail-matter, as will be readily seen, and if found desirable I may connect some movable part of the box with a bell or other signal, as shown in Fig. 2, to notify the occupants of a building that mail has been deposited, such signal being operated by the pulling out of the box. \Vhen the box has been pulled out, it cannot again be collapsed or folded or the contents removed until the person having the key to lock 1) unlocks the same, and then the mail may be removed from the back through the center of frame B, the spring-latches retracted, and the box folded up again to await a repetition of the operation.

In order to increase the neatness of appearance of the box, I prefer .to provide the frame B with a molding or flange b, which conceals the hinges adjacent to the frame and gives the device a more finished appearance.

\Vhat lclaim,and desire to sccurc by Let ters Patent, is

1. A mail-receptacle comprising the supporting-frame, the face-plate, the folding sides, and folding ends connected to said frame and plate byhinge connections, whereby said folding sides and ends are operated simultaneously when the face-plate is drawn out or retracted, substantially as described.

2. A mail-receptacle comprising the attaching-plate, the hinged supporting-frame, a locking device for securing said frame to said plate, and a folding receptacle secured to said frame, substantially as described.

3. A mail-receptacle comprising a supporting-frame and a folding receptacle secured thereto, provided with a locking device or devices for holding said receptacle in its distended position, substantially as described.

4. A mail-receptacle comprising the supporting-frame, the face-plate, folding sections connecting said frame and plate, and springcatches for locking said parts when drawn out, substantially as described.

5. A mail-receptacle comprising the attaching-plate, the supporting-frame, the faceplate, folding sections connecting said frame and plate, spring-catches for locking said parts when drawn out, and a locking device for securing said frame to said plate, substantially as described.

6. A mail-receptacle comprising the supportingframe, the folding side sections, and folding end sections, said end sections being provided with spring-catches for engaging the side sections, substantially as described.

7. A mail-receptacle comprising among its members the supporting-frame provided with the outwardly-projecting flange, the faceplate, the folding side sections, and the folding end sections connecting said frame and plate and adapted to lie within said out weirdly-extending flange when folded, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN FRANCIS DEEVES.

Witnesses:

FRANK OLANoEY, PETER ROHRBACHER. 

